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TikTok’s “morning shed” skincare trend has gone viral.
Luckily, this trend doesn’t require any peeling or flaking of the skin. “Morning peeling” refers to removing personal care products that content creators used the night before and then “taking it off” when they wake up, filming it and broadcasting it on TikTok.
The products include face masks, eye patches, lip serums, heatless curlers and even mouth tapes, and they're fascinating to look at.
In many ways, it's great: These creators wake up with glowing skin and perfect hair, gaining an extra half hour in bed, all because they spent hours twirling their hair around in socks the night before.
Many have justified the trend as “going to bed ugly to wake up pretty,” but, like many of these viral beauty routines, many have wondered if it really works or if it is just excessive consumption that has become a craze.
When it comes to skincare, “Leaving sheet masks on overnight is generally not recommended,” says dermatologist and aesthetician Dr. Hasan Bena. “Sheet masks are designed to deliver a concentrated dose of active ingredients in a short period of time, so leaving them on for too long can cause the mask to dry out, which could strip the skin of moisture instead of providing hydration.”
To moisturize overnight, Bena recommends using a leave-in mask or a thick moisturizing cream.
But what is perhaps most intriguing about the “morning sheds” is the sheer apparatus People are putting it into practice. It's not just a simple eye mask and lip balm: people are wrapping their faces with tape, gauze and cloth strips to ensure the perfect facial structure.
Nighttime is your skin’s chance to recover, repair and revitalize. “Sleeping with bandages or sheets on your skin doesn’t allow it to breathe and also restricts blood flow,” says aesthetic physician Amish Patel. “And taping or bundling your face certainly won’t bring your clock back to normal. It will also be uncomfortable and disrupt your valuable sleep pattern.”
What’s more, overusing products can counteract their effectiveness, leading to congestion and breakouts. “The skin barrier has its limits and too many active ingredients can lead to irritation or sensitivity,” says Harley Street physician Lesley Reynolds. “Incompatible ingredients can reduce efficacy or cause adverse reactions.
“For example, mixing retinol with strong acids can cause dryness and irritation. It is essential to understand the interactions between ingredients.”
Sleeping with different devices and treatments can also have an impact on sleep quality. Some products, such as eye masks, can have a stabilizing effect and encourage people to lie still rather than toss and turn all night.
However, in the same vein, sticky eye patches, sticky lip masks and tight neck wraps can be uncomfortable enough to keep you up at night. “You have to be careful about incorrect dosages,” says Dr Leah Totton, a physician and winner of BBC’s The Apprentice. “You should consult with a dermatologist or cosmetic doctor about which actives can be used alongside which.”
Ultimately, the best thing you can do for your skin is a good night's sleep, so stick with what makes you feel best. And if that means taking off ten layers of clothing before breakfast, so be it.
